VEHICLE TOP CLEARANCE ALERT SYSTEM

• US 20130222592A1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gieseke, Achim
• Granted Patent: US 9,269,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/08 responsive to conditions relating to the cargo, e.g. overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096708 where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096766 where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees

Abstract

A vehicle clearance alert system includes at least one sensor or camera disposed at a vehicle and having an exterior field of view in a direction of travel of the vehicle. A control is responsive to the camera and is operable to determine a height dimension of a structure in the path of travel of the vehicle. The control is operable, responsive to (i) the determined height dimension of a structure in the path of travel of the vehicle and (ii) a height dimension of the vehicle, to determine if there is sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure. Responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, the alert system is operable to generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle clearance alert system comprising:

at least one camera disposed at a vehicle and having an exterior field of view in a direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein said at least one camera is operable to capture image data;

a control having an image processor operable to process image data captured by said at least one camera;

wherein, responsive to image processing of image data captured by said at least one camera, said control is operable to determine a height dimension of a structure in the path of travel of the vehicle;

wherein said control is operable, responsive to (i) the determined height dimension of the structure in the path of travel of the vehicle and (ii) a height dimension of the vehicle, to determine if there is sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure; and

wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said vehicle clearance alert system is operable to generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein said at least one camera comprises a forward facing camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable responsive to image data captured by at least one remote imaging sensor capturing the vehicle at least in part.

4. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein the height of the vehicle is stored in a memory of said control.

5. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 4, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of the vehicle with an object disposed thereon via processing of captured image data and based at least in part on a known height of the vehicle when no object is disposed thereon.

6. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 4, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of the vehicle with an object disposed thereon via processing of captured image data that is representative of at least one of (i) a reflected image of the vehicle with the object disposed thereon and (ii) a shadow of the vehicle with the object disposed thereon.

7. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of the vehicle via processing of captured image data that is representative of at least one of (i) a reflected image of the vehicle and (ii) a shadow of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of a structure in the path of travel of the vehicle responsive at least in part to information generated by a navigation system of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of a structure in the path of travel via determining a height of the structure above the ground.

10. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of a structure in the path of travel via determining a height dimension at a sign at or near the structure.

11. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said alert system is operable to generate a graphic overlay that overlays a displayed image to visually alert the driver of the vehicle of insufficient clearance.

12. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said alert system is operable to control at least one of (i) steering of the vehicle and (ii) braking of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said control is operable to determine a clearance path around or through the structure.

14. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 13, wherein said control is operable to guide or direct the driver of the vehicle along the determined clearance path.

15. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 14, wherein said control is operable to control the steering of the vehicle as the vehicle passes around or through the structure.

16. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 15, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is no clearance path available around or through the structure, said control is operable to control braking of the vehicle.

17. A vehicle clearance alert system comprising:

a forward facing camera disposed at a vehicle and having an exterior field of view in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

a control having an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein, responsive to image processing of image data captured by said camera, said control is operable to determine a height dimension of a structure in the path of travel of the vehicle;

wherein said control is operable, responsive to (i) the determined height dimension of the structure in the path of travel of the vehicle and (ii) a height dimension of the vehicle, to determine if there is sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure; and

wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said vehicle clearance alert system is operable to generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle, and wherein said alert comprises at least one of (i) a visual alert, (ii) an audible alert and (iii) a haptic alert.

18. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 17, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of the vehicle with an object disposed thereon via processing of captured image data and based at least in part on a known height of the vehicle when no object is disposed thereon.

19. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 17, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of the vehicle with an object disposed thereon via processing of captured image data that is representative of at least one of (i) a reflected image of the vehicle with the object disposed thereon and (ii) a shadow of the vehicle with the object disposed thereon.

20. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 17, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said alert system is operable to generate a graphic overlay that overlays a displayed image to visually alert the driver of the vehicle of insufficient clearance.

21. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 17, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said control is operable to determine a clearance path around or through the structure, and wherein said control is operable to guide or direct the driver of the vehicle along the determined clearance path.

22. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 21, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is no clearance path available around or through the structure, said control is operable to control braking of the vehicle.

23. A vehicle clearance alert system comprising:

a forward facing camera disposed at a vehicle and having an exterior field of view in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

a control having an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein, responsive to image processing of image data captured by said camera, said control is operable to determine a height dimension of a structure in the path of travel of the vehicle;

wherein said control is operable, responsive to (i) the determined height dimension of the structure in the path of travel of the vehicle and (ii) a height dimension of the vehicle, to determine if there is sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure;

wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said vehicle clearance alert system is operable to generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle; and

wherein said forward facing camera is part of a forward facing imaging system and is operable to at least one of (i) detect a headlamp present in the field of view of said camera, (ii) track lane markers present in the field of view of said camera, (iii) detect traffic signs present in the field of view of said camera, (iv) detect vehicles present in the field of view of said camera and (v) detect pedestrians present in the field of view of said camera.

24. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 23, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of the vehicle with an object disposed thereon via processing of captured image data and based at least in part on a known height of the vehicle when no object is disposed thereon.

25. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 24, wherein said control is operable to determine a height dimension of the vehicle with an object disposed thereon via processing of captured image data that is representative of at least one of (i) a reflected image of the vehicle with the object disposed thereon and (ii) a shadow of the vehicle with the object disposed thereon.

26. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 23, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said alert system is operable to generate a graphic overlay that overlays a displayed image to visually alert the driver of the vehicle of insufficient clearance.

27. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 23, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is not sufficient clearance between the structure and the vehicle for the vehicle to pass under the structure, said control is operable to determine a clearance path around or through the structure, and wherein said control is operable to guide or direct the driver of the vehicle along the determined clearance path.

28. The vehicle clearance alert system of claim 27, wherein, responsive to a determination that there is no clearance path available around or through the structure, said control is operable to control braking of the vehicle.